Investing in Connection: How Asking Questions Creates Opportunity with Susan McPherson

I am joined this week by the incredible Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies and author of "The Lost Art of Connecting." Susan is a renowned connector, communications strategist, and corporate social responsibility expert who has dedicated her career to helping businesses create meaningful social impact.

In this heartfelt conversation, Susan shares her journey from being "the tiniest one in the room" who had to find her voice early to becoming a powerhouse in the world of social impact. We explore her childhood in upstate New York, where her academic parents instilled in her the value of connecting others through their morning ritual of clipping newspaper articles to share with friends and colleagues – an early form of social networking that shaped Susan's approach to relationships.

Susan opens up about the profound loss of her mother at age 21 and how this tragedy shaped her financial mindset and career trajectory. Listen as she recounts her path from waitressing to fund her year abroad in Denmark, to working at USA Today, to eventually launching McPherson Strategies at age 48 without any formal business training. Susan's story demonstrates how personal values, lived experiences, and a commitment to service can create a meaningful career and lasting impact.

Key Topics:

1. How to start building your network by making conversations about other people
2. The surprising power of "clip and share" - Susan's parents' pre-internet social networking ritual
3. Why financial independence must come before entrepreneurial risks
4. How Susan navigated a successful career despite never taking business courses
5. The value of maxing out your 401(k) from day one (and why Susan has done this consistently for decades)
6. Why angel investing can be about learning and impact, not just financial returns
7. Building the courage to launch your own business after 45

Connect with Susan online:

Website: https://mcpstrategies.com/

Book: The Lost Art of Connecting

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/

Twitter: @susanmcp1

Instagram: @susanmcp1

 

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